Paper feeding mechanism



Sept. 22, 1936. J. Q. SHERMAN PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 2 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet l SePt- 22, 1936- J. Q. SHERMAN 2,054,837

PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 2, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 22, 1936. J. Q. SHERMAN 2,054,837

PAPER FEED ING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 2, 1935 5 Sheets--Sheell 3 Figi" 3a l MNY MMWW Patented Sept. 22, 1936 UNITED STATES Aand more particularly to means for progressiven ly feeding superposed strips of record material while maintaining proper alignment thereof with the printed forms thereon in accurateregistry with; each other. The present embodiment of the inu vention involves straight line motion feeding means having engagement with the superposed strips and moving them a predetermined distance through a substantially straight path of travel, after which the strips of record material are released and the strip engaging means is returned idly preparatory to a succeeding feeding operation. `lifiultiple strip engaging devices are provided ior alternating operation whereby during retrograde movement of one such device, another will be in operative engagement with the record strips, thereby effecting a substantially continuous advancement thereof. 'I'he apparatus is so controlled that each strip engaging device is actively engaged with the strips before disengagement of the other feeding device.

The object of the invention is to simplify the construction as well as the means and mode of operation of paper feeding means for writing machine, whereby it will not only be cheap in construction and economical for manufacture, but willrbe more emcient in use, positive in operation, uniform in action, of few` parts compactly arranged, and unlikely to get out of repair.

A further object of the invention is to provide a reciprocatory feeding device for superposed strips or webs of record material which will, at all times, maintain operative engagement with the strips or webs of material, and which will serve to move such material in a straight line path oi travel.

A further object of the invention is to provide straight line motion feeding means for strips or webs of writing material engageable in punched feeding holes in such material which will be auto matically disengaged at the end of a predetermined path of travel and returned for reengagaz ment at a different point throughout the length of the superposed strips or webs of material.

A further object of the invention is to provide strip or web feeding means having straight line engagement and disengagement substantially perpendicular to the strips or webs of record material at the opposite limits of its feeding movement.

- A further object of the invention is to provide alternating strip feeding devices and means for eilecting operative engagement of each of the been applied. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail side (Cl. .imm-133) devices with the material before the other ole-=` vice has been disengaged therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved actuating means for operating alternating strip feeding devices. 5

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for automatically projecting a strip engaging member into operative relation with the strip and for automatically retracting it therefrom at the opposite limits of a predetermined path of feeding movement.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view, as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention consists of the features of construction, the parts and combina- 15 tions thereof,- and the mode of operation, or their equivalents, as hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein is shown the preferred, but obviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 lis a side elevation of a conventional orm of typewriter having a, traveling paper supply carrier associated therewith, and to which the present strip feeding mechanism has elevation ofthe strip 'feedingmechanism form ing the subject matter hereof. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the strip feeding mechanism and an associated platen roller as viewed from the right of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a modiication of the feeding apparatus while Fig. 5 is a rear view of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. l as viewed from the right. Fig. 6 is a detail view.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, l indicates a conventional form of typewriter, associated with which is a traveling paper supply carrier 2, reciprocated to and fro upon the supporting track 3 by arms l connected to the carrier and projecting on opposite sides of the reciprocatory platen carriage ii of the typewriter. The typewriter l is provided with the usual line spacing mechanism operated by the lever Ei to actuate the customary platen roller l through the medium of the ratchet wheel The typewriter and line spacing mechanism, disclosed in the drawings, are for illustrative purposes only and it is to be understood that the paper feeding mechanism, forming the subject matter hereof, is applicable to various styles ci writing machines and is not limited to the particular writing machine or mechanism illustrated.

Mounted upon each end of the reciprocatory platen carriage 5 are vertical trame plates ill interconnected by a rearwardly inclined table or guide plate il, over which the superposed strips or webs or record material pass from the platen roll i of the writing machine. Mounted upon the inner races ci the trame plates ill for alternating reciprocatory motion in directions parallel with the guide plate or table ifi, are alternating slides l2 and iii disposed on opposite sides oi the guide platen or:l table il.

Slides i2 and i3 are mounted in any suitable torni oi guides upon each end plate i@ for rela= tive alternating reciprocatory motion. For sim= plicity and economy of manufacture, the slides are shown provided with longitudinal slots i@ through which project headed studs i5 nnedly see cured in the end plates i@ and supporting the slides i2 and i3 for to and tro motion. The slides i2 and i3 are actuated by cams i l and i@ concen trically mounted at each end oi the platen roller l with which they are connected for unison rotation. Fig. 3, being a rear view, the slides lil only are visible at each end or" the plate lll. Tae conipanion slides i2 are located beyond the guide plate ii. The corresponding slides at opposite sides or" the machine operate in unison and al ternately with those on the opposite side oi the guide plate. il. The slid@ i3 carry rollers l0 engaging in the cam grooves 2@ oi the actua ing cams il, at each end or the platen roll. likec wise, the slides l2 carry rollers it engaging cams it, each controlling a slide i2 at each end oi the machine. The slides i3, being located sub stantially in alignment with their actuating cam il, the roller i@ is mounted directly upon the slides. To the contrary the slides l2 being onset forwardly of the actuating cams and platen roller l?, such slides i2 are provided with rearwardly extending arms 2i carrying the rollers it' en vgaglng in the cam ways of the actuating cams it).

The cams il and id are set to retract one slide, while the other slide is being advanced, thus alternating the direction of movement of the slides l2 and ill. This relation o parts clearly appears in Fig. 2.

Upon the respective reciprocatory slides l2 and i3 are pin carrying heads 22 and 23 respectively, mounted for reciprocatory motion transversely of the slides l2 and i3 upon which they are carried. Each of the transversely reciprocatory heads 22 and 23 carries a paper engaging pin or stud 2li projected into and withdrawn from punched feed holes of the superposed manifold-v ing strips passing over the guide plate il. The transversely adjustable heads 22 and 23 are provided with slots 25 through which extend headed studs 26 xedly secured in the reciprocatory slides l2 and I3. The heads 22 and 23 are tapered or.

inclined to present cam surfaces 2l and 28. They are held in their transversely adjusted positions relative to the slides l2 and i3 by spring detent fingers 2s which engage with rounded bosses t@ on the under side of the adjustable heads.

In the positions shown in Fig. 2, the feeding studs or pins 24 oi both of the heads are in active feeding engagement with the manifolding material which extends across the guide plate li from the platen roll l. The pin 26 of the feeding head 23 is about to be withdrawn and the pin 24 of the head 22 has just been projected into feeding position preparatory to its upward feeding motion. The inclined cam face 21 of the head 23, as shown in Fig. 2, has just contacted with the head of the stud IB', and upon continued upward movement of the slide I3, the camming f action of the surface 2l will retract the head 23 to withdraw its pin 2d from engagement with the paper. This retractive movement is against the tension of the datent spring 29 which yields to the pressure of the projection il@ and nally snaps into place beyond such projection to hold the head 23 retracted during the retrograde motion ci the slide i3.

During its retrograde motion the head engages and idly pushes aside a pivoted contact member Si carried by the mounting plate i and spring pressed into the path of-travel of the head 23. The contact member 3i normally engages a stop stud 32 which resists movement of the contact as the head 23 travels upwardly permitting inningn ing motion in one direction only. The feeding head @il passesbeyond the spring actuated contact member 3i in its retractive movement. and upon the initial return movement of the slide the cam face oi the head contacts with the :meni-J ber till, which is then unyielding, and as the slide continues to move the head 213 is cammed transversely into operative engagement with the mani folding material, against the yielding resistance oi the spring detent past which the projection @il is forced, and which thereupon holds the head in adjusted position. The feeding pin 2li carried by the head 23 is thus thrust into registered feeding apertures of the manifolding strips which engagement is maintained throughout the advance movement of the slide i3 until the head 28 is retracted transversely or" the slide by engagement of its cam face 2i with the iixed stud i e to withdraw the feeding pin 2d from the maniolding material.

The action of theslide i2 and feeding head 22 is identical with that of the head 23 heretofore described, except that it is cliiierently timed to alternate with the slide i3 and head 23 in ac tuating the manifolding material. The studs i5 and contact members lll are so spaced that the feeding pin 2li of one head is projected into engagement within the registered feeding holes oi the manifolding material before the pin 2d of the other head is disengaged therefrom.

Illustrative of the wide range of variation of possible embodiment of the invention thereis shown in Fig. d a modification wherein the reciprocatory slides are gear actuated and the feeding heads are lever actuated.

Mounted on the end plates lll for alternating reciprocatory motion at opposite sides of the guide plate ll are two slides 32 and 33 corresponding to the slides i2 and it of the construction rst described. These slides are slotted at i6 for engagement with guiding studs l5 pro- `iecting from the end plates id. The slides 32 and d3 are centrally open and provided with two series of inwardly projecting rack teeth 3d and 35, alternately engaged by associated gear segments 36 carried on shafts 3l journaled in the end plates lil and extending transversely of the machine. The shafts 3l carry gear segments 3d at each end engageable with corresponding double rack slides oneachvend plate lll, to drive the slides rst in one direction and then in the other. It will be understood that the slides or double racks 32 and 33 are provided in pairs, one member of each pair being located at each side of the machine, and operating in unison and the respective pairs being located in front and behind the guide plate Il and alternating in their movements.

The gear segments 36 are actuated from the 75 to the other.

platen roll l by a gear train, the initial member 38 oi which is mounted concentrically with the platen roller and is connected thereto for unison rotation. The primary gear 38 meshes with a second gear 39 mounted on the end plate l@ which in turn drives a. third gear member il@ having simultaneous engagement with two gear pinions di mounted on the segment shafts 3l pertaining to the respective gear rack slides 32 and iid. Thus rotary motion is transmitted to the gear segments et in unison with the rotation of the platen.

These gear segments are mounted in the open ings of the slides 32 and and in their rotation engage first one series and then the other series of rack teeth dit and 35 to drive the slide i'irst in one direction and then in the other. The openings within the slides 32 and $33 are terminally enlarged beyond the ends of the gear racks 3d and 35 sumciently to permit the gear segments Sii to idly turn from one gear rack to the other. Having intermeshed with one series of gear teeth and thereby having driven the slide longitudinally in one direction to the limit of its movement the gear segment disengages the iirst series of rack teeth and by a partial rotation engages the second series of rack teeth to drive the slide an equal distance in reverse direction.

in Fig. 6, the gear segment is shown in an intermediate position, passing from one gear racl Thus the direction of movement of the slides alternates, and moreover the respective pairs of slides 32 and at the front and rear of the guide plate l l alternate with each other.

Slidingly mounted upon each of the reciprocatory slides 32 and for transverse movement relative thereto is a head l2 corresponding to the heads '22 and 23 of the construction nrst described. Each carries a feeding pin 2li.y Pthese heads l2 are provided with slots 33 in which engage guide studs ld carried by the slides.

For reciprocating the heads l2 to project and withdraw the feeding pins 2d relative to the inani-a folding material there is provided a walking beam type of lever l5 pivoted at iii to the end plates ill, the arms of which extend downwardly in approximately parallel relation with the reciprocatory slides.

Each arm of the rocking lever l is slotted at fill. Within these slots the heads l2 are slidingly engaged by studs dt, whereby the feeding heads d2 may move up and down in unison with the reciprocation of the slides independently of the rocking lever. Upon oscillation of the lever such feeding heads, carrying the paper engaging pins 2d are shifted transversely of the slides upon which they are carried, to advance the pin 2d of one head into engagement with' the manifolding material and withdraw the pin 2li of the other head therefrom. Such movement occurs only when one of the slides and its feeding head is at the upper limit and the other slide and feeding head at the lower limit of catory motion.

The lever l5 is rocked by the movement of one or the other of the slides as they approach the limit of their movement in each direction. While various operating connections may be employed, there is shown in Fig. d an adjustable contact d@ on the upper end of the reciprocatory slide which engages the under side of the rocking lever l5 as the slide approaches the upper limit of its range of travel, and thereby osoillates the rocking lever d to withdraw the head carried by the slide :i3 and project the head carried by the slide 32 into operative engagement with the moldtheir range of reciproing material. At the limit of the downward movement of the slide an odset or ange upon an upwardly extending adjustable bar 5@ also carried by the reciprocatory slide 33 engages the upper side of the rocking lever d5 to oscillate the lever in reverse direction and thereby reverse the engagement of the feeding heads.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacricing any of its advantages.

`While in order to comply with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise the preferred form of several modes of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims. Y

Having thus described my invention, l claim:

l. A feeding mechanism for a writing machine utilizing superimposed strips of punched record material, a pair of reciprocating feeding members, a plunger carried by each of said feeding members, said plungers engaging the record material when the reciprocating members move in a direction of the advancement of the record material, and means for retracting one of the plungers out ofengagement with the record material during the movement of the other plunger in the opposite direction.

2. In a writing machine for use with punched record material, a rotary platen past which the record material is fed, means for intermittently aligning the strips of record material, said means including a pin traveling along a straight line when in engagement with the record material, said means advancing at a speed substantially equal to the peripheral speed or" the platen when the pin is in engagement with the record material and traveling in the direction of the record niaterial contiguous thereto when aligning the strips, the pin being retractable from the record material but pointing in the same general direction when out of engagement.

3. In a writing machine, a platen, feeding means for advancing the record material provided with feed holes past the platen, said feeding means including a pair of pins alternately engaging said feed holes and continuously advancing along a straight line when feeding the record material past the platen and returning along a circuitous path but pointing in the same direction.

d. In a writing machine, a platen, a pair of devices cooperating to advance a record sheet provided with feed holes past the platen, each of said devices including a pin intermittently engaging the feed holes in the writing material and traveling in a straight line when in engagement therewith, the pin of one device being adapted to engage record material when a pin of the other device is out of engaging position.

5. In a writing machine for operating upon sheets of punched record material, a pair oi feeding pins alternately and successively engaging said sheet'to feed the same through said machine,

the pins traveling along a straight line when advancing the sheet, but entering-the same from opposite sides of the record material.

o. In a machine for feeding sheets of record material provided with aligned apertures, a pair of pins alternately advancing the record material in registry, reciprocatory supports for the pins, means for retracting one of said supports to withdraw its pin out of engagement with the record material when a pin of the other support is in engagement with the record material.

il. A pin feeding device for feeding superposed strips of continuous length record material provided with apertures including a pair of recipro- Lcatory supports, a pin carried by each of said supports, said pin having a reciprocatory movement therewith and means for retracting one ol the supports and its pin from engagement with the record material when the pin ot the other support engages the same.

8. In a writing machine for use with superposed strips of record material having aligned feeding holes, a rotary platen, a reciprocatory carriage adjacent to the path of travel of the record material passing around the platen, said carriage having a to and iro movement parallel to the path of travel of the record material adjacent thereto, and an aligning pin movahly mounted upon the carriage, said pin movably mounted upon the carriage in a direction traversing the path of movement of the record material so as to enter into a feed hole and to he retracted therefrom, the feeding pin entering a hole when the carriage moves in the direction of the movement of the record material so as to hold the same in alignment while passing around the platen, the lineal speed of the carriage heing substantially equal to the peripheral speed oi the platen.

9. ln a writing machine utilizing superposed strips o record material provided with feed holes, a rotary platen past which the record material passes, and a pin-feeding device including a reciprocatory carriageihaving an operative and an inoperative stroke each in a path parallel to the movement of travel of the record material contiguous thereto, the rate of speed oi" the carriage during the operative stroke being substantially equal to the peripheral speed of the platen, a pin carried loy said carriage and means associated with said carriage for advancing the pin into engagement with the ieed holes oi the record material during the operative stroke of the carriage, said pin being retracted out of engagement during the inoperative stroke.

lo. ln a pin feeding device for a writing machine tor use with record material having feed holes, a pair of reciprocating carriages, each oi which has an operative stroke and an inoperative stroke, each of said carriages including a pin, and

means associated with the carriages for advancing il. In a Writing machine, a platen, a pair of 1 pin feeding devices for advancing the record material past the platen, each of said pin feeding devices including areciprocating carri ge having an operative and an inoperative stroke, and a pin carried by said carriage moving into engagement with the record material during the operative stroke and moving out of engagement during the entire inoperative stroke of the carriage, and

aosassv means for actuating the carriages in synchronisrn lout phase opposition so that the record material is always engaged by at least one pin.

l2. ln a pin feeding device for a writing machine tor use with record material having feed holes. a pair oi carriages having alternate advance and return strokes, each of said carriages having a pin, the pins moving into engagement with the record material during the advance stroke of the carriage and being retracted from the record material during the return stroke of the carriage.

i3. ln a writing machine, a platen, a plurality oil reciprocating carriages for advancing the record material past the platen, each oi said carriages having an operative stroke and a return stroke, a pin carried by each of the carriages, said pins moving into engagement with the record material during the operative stroke oi the carriage and moving out of engagement with the record material during the return stroke.

lli. lin a writing machine, a platen, a pair of pin feeding devices alternately operative to advance the record material past the platen, each of said pin feeding devices including a pin mounted in a support and an. oscillating arm for controlling the movement of the piu with respect to the support, the arm of one pin feeding device alternating with the arm of the other.

i5. lin a Writing machine, a platen, a pair of pin feeding devices alternately operative to ad- Vance the record material past the platen, each of said pin feeding devices including a reciprocating carriage, a pin carried by said carriage, and an oscillating arm for controlling the movement ol said pin relative to the carriage, the arm oi one feeding device alternating with the arm of the other, so as to maintain continuous engagement of the record material with at least one pin.

i6. ln a writing machine, a platen, a pair of reciprocating carriages each having an operative stroke and an inoperative stroke ior advancing the record material past the platen, a pin carried by each oi said carriages, and oscillating arms advancing the pins into engagement and retracting the pins from engagement with the record material during the operative and the entire lnomrative strokes respectively of each carriage, the carriages being disposed on opposite sides of the record material fed by said pins.

i7. .ln a writing machine, a platen, a pin leeding device for advancing the record material past the platen, a plurality of pins for engaging the record material to advance the same beyond the platen, and a plurality of oscillating larms ior advancing the pins into engagement with the record material and retracting the same therefrom, one of said arms retracting one pin while another arm advances another pin into the record material so that the record material is continuously engaged by at least one pin.

ld. ln a writing machine for use with continnous strips of record material having aligned feed holes, a platen, a pair of pin feeding devices having pins alternately engaging holes provided therefor in the record material, the pins of one pin feeding device advancing into the feed holes from one side of the record material and the pins of the other pin feeding device advancing into the holes oi the record material from the 'opposite side.

i9. ln a writing machine for use with punched record material. a rotary platen past which/the record material is fed, means having an operative stroke for aligning thenstrips or record material and an inoperative stroke, said means including a pin traveling along a straight line when in engagement with the record material, means for actuating said aligning means at a rate of speedv substantially equal to the peripheral speed of the platen during the operative stroke when the record material is aligned, and means for causing the pin 'to pass through a circuitous path but pointing in the same general direction during the inoperative stroke. 

